Countdown begins for introduction of National Health Scheme

The countdown for the implementation of the National Health Scheme (Gesy) has begun with less than a year to go before outpatient care kicks in, head of the Health Insurance Organisation (HIO) Thomas Antoniou said on Tuesday.

He was speaking at press conference where he gave an account of the progress achieved so far over the implementation of the Gesy, a year after the relevant bills were passed in parliament.

“We are just 340 days before the implementation of the Gesy,” Antoniou said, adding that its implementation will ensure everyone’s right to healthcare access, without discrimination or restrictions, based on the principles of social solidarity, equality of access and the right of choice.

Members of the public, he said, will have access to healthcare based on their needs and not their financial capabilities, and without risking falling into economic hardship. “Each fellow citizen will become a beneficiary from the moment of his/her birth and throughout his/her life, regardless of their financial situation, pre-existing or chronic diseases. It is this law, these principles and these goals we serve,” he said.

The most important pre-requisite, and the biggest project for the preparation of the Gesy, the software programme, is within the timeframe set, Antoniou said, and delivery of what has been agreed with the contractor has begun.

Discussion in parliament of regulations for the secondary legislation for phase one of the Gesy that concern co-payments, personal physicians and specialists, pharmacists, pharmaceuticals, labs and beneficiaries, is expected to begin in September following consultations with stakeholders.
In October, an information campaign on the Gesy is expected to be launched.

By December, the registry of personal physicians will begin followed by the registration of beneficiaries on their lists. At the beginning of 2019, the registration will begin of specialists, pharmacists and labs.

By the beginning of next year, all committees provided by law will be set up, such as the advisory committees on pharmaceuticals, on the compensation for medicines and the Audit Committee. The Supervisory Commissioner will be appointed by March 1, 2019.

In March 2019, contributions for the Gesy will be collected by the social insurance services, the tax department and the state treasury.

Phase One of the Gesy will kick in on June 1 of the same year. This concerns outpatient care provided by personal physicians, specialists, pharmacies and labs.

Gesy will be in full swing as of June 1, 2020 with inpatient care.

Antoniou said that the HIO remains focused on its goal, which is ensuring access to high-quality healthcare for everyone and that they are working toward the implementation of a “modern, viable, functional and anthropocentric health system.”

Meanwhile, the organisation of state health services (OKYY) announced on Tuesday they have called in “the distinguished Professor Michael Pringle” to carry out a study on additional financial benefits/incentives for the personal physicians who will be working at the organisation’s primary care centres.

Personal physicians who are currently working in state health centres will be transferred under the OKYY and in addition to their annual salaries will be given additional allowances as incentives for increased productivity and improved healthcare quality, or to attract physicians in remote and rural areas, it said.

11 Comments

logic lapse

June 27, 2018 at 09:06

What will happen to people like us who have private medical insurance? Will we still have to pay the contributions? Might as well stop paying medical insurance if not. Insurance companies are going to love this…

divadi bear

July 7, 2018 at 18:14

I have a question similar to the comment of ‘logic lapse”.
I receive my pension from Germany. Contribution to Health Insurance is deducted at source and forwarded to the Cypriot “NHI”. When the new system kicks-in here will I also be compelled to pay to a Cypriot NHI as well as my German one ?

Wanderer

June 26, 2018 at 22:11

It’s sad to see that this power grab is celebrated. Nothing good ever came out of centralized control over healthcare, neither in UK or Canada nor in USSR.

Daenerys Reddy

June 26, 2018 at 23:21

Indeed, one of the most depressing things about Cyprus is the way they choose to re-run the disasters of other countries rather than learn from their experiences and avoid making the same mistakes.

From previous articles I estimate that the proposed tax to ‘pay for’ the system won’t cover 10% of the real cost (based on what the UK government spends on the NHS with promises for even more!). So where will the extra money come from (as if we didn’t know!!!)

Mike

June 27, 2018 at 10:50

What makes you think Cyprus will re-run the disasters of other countries? Perhaps other countries have inept purchasing checks and balances built into their system so anyone can charge them 1000’s percent more for any medicine or apparatus that is freely aand cheaply available. Perhaps other countries do not take stock of or deposits for the safe return of medical apparatus i.e. Crutches, walking sticks, splints, camodes and the list goes on. We have no idea how the service will be run or managed, it may be better it may be worse but lets see it in action before we criticise shall we.

Wanderer

June 27, 2018 at 11:02

Yes, yes, perhaps other countries had bad central planners, we just need good central planners and everything will be great. Right.

divadi bear

July 7, 2018 at 18:17

Wanderer
There is a German saying ie: “Your word in God’s ear” !

Daenerys Reddy

June 27, 2018 at 11:11

And you really think that Cyprus will run it efficiently?!!! If my cost estimate is anything like correct, they would need to run it 10 time as cost-effectively as the UK just to be in the same state of perpetual ‘crisis’! Good luck with that. And by the time you “see it in action” it will be too late.

Dimitris Koutoumbas

June 27, 2018 at 05:07

No it’s not. You’re just cynical

A is B

June 26, 2018 at 21:13

Sounds good. How will you know if you are entitled to it.

divadi bear

June 26, 2018 at 21:39

A is B.
If you read the article properly you will see that every Cypriot will be covered irrespective of being poor or rich.
There is no hint of how residents will be handled even if they pay NHS contributions in their own country. Presently, that is clear as the ins., cover is transferable but will we have the extra burden of paying for the CY NHS too ?

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